Art Paulson

Arthur Theodore Paulson was born on Sunday, June 15, 1924 in Appleton, MN, the son of Alfred and Myrtle Paulson. He was baptized in the Christian faith and was raised by Reid and Nina Stenka in Clotho, MN. Art proudly served his country during WWII in the United States Army as a cook stationed in Japan & Hawaii. Following his honorable discharge and his return to the states, Art was united in marriage to Shirley Payne on Jan. 11, 1948 in rural Redwood Falls, MN. He became a mechanic at the Pure Oil Station in Olivia, MN and in 1958, moved to Granite Falls, MN where he owned and operated Paulson's Radiator Shop until his retirement in 1989. During his retirement years, Art enjoyed fishing and woodcrafting. He was a skilled craftsman and sold many beautiful items at local craft fairs. Art also maintained a daily newspaper route for 16 years and after his deliveries, he enjoyed stopping in at Prairie's Edge Casino to visit with friends and pass the time. He loved watching Twin's baseball and NASCAR races on television and always looked forward to visits from his children and their families. Art was a devoted husband and stern, but loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. In the early morning hours of Tuesday June 9, 2009, while in the loving presence of family, Art was called from this life at his Granite Falls residence of 51 years. He was 84 years of age. Surviving family include his wife Shirley of Granite Falls, MN; his children Larry (& Linda) Paulson of Montevideo, MN, Jerry (& Janell) Paulson of Granite Falls, MN, Terry (& special friend Mary Holien) of Hazel Run, MN, Barb (& Allen) Torke of Hanley Falls, MN and Sue (& special friend Billie Weinhold) of Cottonwood, MN; 13 grandchildren- Wendy (& Mike) Richards of Montevideo, MN, Lisa (& Rodney) Roberts of Montevideo, MN, Brian Paulson of Montevideo, MN, Amber (& Jim) Hjelmstad of Omaha, NE, Blake Paulson of Alexandria, MN, Tony (& Angie) Paulson of Granite Falls, MN, Katie Paulson (& friend Andy) of Lester Prairie, MN, Jolene (& Matt) Hoepner of Cold Spring, MN, Heather Torke of Wood Lake, MN, Tara Torke (& friend Paul) of Burnsville, MN and Alison (& Aaron) Bakkelund of Hanley Falls, MN, Brooks Torke of Wood Lake, MN and Stephanie Huso (& fiance? Jeff Bragg) of Marshall, MN; 10 great grandchildren- Samantha Torke, Jacob Roberts, Matthew Roberts, Jakob Pringle, Kayla Richards, Janessa Bakkelund, Owen Hoepner, Megan Hjelmstad, Ava Hoepner and Tyler Hjelmstad. He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law Cathy Paulson.